Chapter 19: No Need to Live Separately

"Creak, creak..."

The long motorcade traveled steadily along the spacious main road of the Imperial Capital, the grand display causing many people to stop and watch.

"Rongrong, it's been a year since we last met, hasn't it?"

Xue Qinghe suddenly looked at Ning Rongrong, who was beside Qin Jian, and smiled: "I heard from your teacher that you just came out of the Mimicry Cultivation Ground?"

"Mm..."

Ning Rongrong nodded and said nothing more; she didn't seem to like talking to this Crown Prince of the empire very much.

However, Xue Qinghe had gone to such trouble to start a conversation that they wouldn't let her off easily: "Staying in there for a whole year, it must have been very hard, right?"

Ning Rongrong nodded and then shook her head.

She looked at Qin Jian beside her and said: "Although it was a bit hard, having him with me made it alright."

"Oh? Qin Jian, were you Rongrong's partner for this teamwork training?"

Xue Qinghe didn't seem to know much about the details.

"Yes, yes, we even broke the sect record!"

Before Qin Jian could speak, Ning Rongrong became excited instead.

She looked at Qin Jian's profile and added: "And not only are we partners this time, we are partners forever."

"Hm?"

For some reason, Xue Qinghe's brows furrowed slightly.

Qin Jian noticed this detail, and his heart tightened.

He didn't think this was the work of the Charm Sword from before; Xue Qinghe was not one of those disciples in the sect with weak soul power, and to truly have an effect, it might take a lot of effort.

So, this frown was not directed at Ning Rongrong, but at him; she seemed a bit bothered by the intimacy Ning Rongrong showed toward him.

What kind of schemes did she have for Ning Rongrong?

Qin Jian secretly braced himself...

Finally, they arrived inside the Palace City.

In the main hall of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Xue Ye gave Ning Fengzhi and his party a grand welcome.

"Hahaha, with the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the personal disciple of Jian Douluo joining in, this year's etiquette training class is truly lively..."

Emperor Xue Ye let out a hearty laugh: "Rongrong and Qin Jian, just stay in the Imperial Palace for these six months; there's no need to run back and forth."

Ning Fengzhi bowed and said: "Then I shall trouble Your Majesty."

Emperor Xue Ye waved his hands repeatedly.

"If I can't even arrange this well, wouldn't that be the royal family being negligent? Qinghe, you are responsible for arranging a good palace for each of them," he said, turning to Xue Qinghe.

Xue Qinghe hurriedly responded: "Yes."

"That... that..."

Just then, Ning Rongrong raised her hand, looking a bit bashful.

"What is it, little Rongrong?" Emperor Xue Ye asked, lowering his head gently.

"Um... I think... there's no need to arrange separate accommodations..."

Her little face was slightly red, but she still said: "It would be fine if Qin Jian and I stayed together."

Emperor Xue Ye was stunned, and Xue Qinghe frowned even more quietly.

Ning Fengzhi was also covered in black lines, but seeing that the situation was a bit awkward, he could only find a way to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, for the past year, Rongrong has been in closed-door training with Qin Jian, so she is used to living together."

"Oh, oh..."

Emperor Xue Ye came back to his senses and said: "Then let it be according to Rongrong's wishes."

Afterward, he exchanged a very subtle look with Xue Qinghe; it seemed... both were somewhat surprised.

"By the way, there will be a graduation assessment for the Etiquette Training Class in half a year, and there will be a ranking. If Sect Master Ning and Jian Douluo have time then, you are welcome to come to the Imperial Palace to see it," Emperor Xue Ye added.

Ning Fengzhi and Jian Douluo exchanged a glance, then said: "Very well, then I will come to see how they have learned in half a year..."

After much tossing and turning, it wasn't until evening that Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong were finally fully settled in.

"Qin Jian, Qin Jian, I want to hear a story!"

In a quiet palace bedroom, Ning Rongrong lay on the bed and began pestering Qin Jian to tell her a story again.

"I haven't even finished the story of Zhang Xiaofan yet; we were too tired in the cultivation ground before, and we haven't listened to stories at night for a long time."

The way Ning Rongrong pouted her little mouth left Qin Jian with no ability to resist.

He pulled her small body over and said: "Alright, let's continue..."

"..."

"Linglong asked him what his wish was, and Shoushen said he wanted to be with her forever, but Linglong just kept shaking her head..."

"Shoushen asked her why, and she said..."

"Because you are not human..."

"So, Shoushen said to her..."

"Then make me human! Make me human—"

"..."

Qin Jian's voice gradually faded, while Ning Rongrong remained immersed in the poignant story.

"Shoushen and Linglong, they are so pitiful..."

She murmured: "One is human, while the other is a monster born of baleful energy; such feelings could never be accepted..."

Qin Jian stroked her little head, a flash of sorrow in his eyes.

In truth, his and her feelings could not be easily accepted either...

Not to mention, he still had to deliberately leave her...

"Qin Jian, Qin Jian..."

Ning Rongrong tugged on his sleeve and said, "In the stories you tell me, why do these people with sincere feelings never have a good ending?"

Qin Jian shook his head and said, "Because only tragedy can create the greatest resonance and leave a deep impression on people, thereby making them cherish the beauty of reality."

"Then will we have a good ending?" Ning Rongrong asked in a low voice.

Qin Jian felt a pang in his heart, but he nodded firmly: "We definitely will!"

"If one day you feel things aren't going well, don't be sad or upset; that is only because it is not yet the ending."

He turned his head to look into Ning Rongrong's eyes and said earnestly, "Rongrong, you must remember what I said, okay?"

Ning Rongrong was a little dazed, because Qin Jian had never spoken to her so seriously before.

"Promise me, okay?" Qin Jian said again.

"Okay..."

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment and said, "If one day I feel things aren't going well, that is only because it is not yet the ending."

"Qin Jian, I will always remember your words," she said firmly.

Seeing her earnest expression, Qin Jian couldn't help but reach out his arms and pull the adorable young girl into his embrace...

The lights gradually extinguished...

Moon Splendor was like water, slowly seeping into the room through the window and spilling onto the bed.

That cold, clear radiance shrouded the quilt, yet it could not extinguish the warmth inside the covers, and the sweet, little happiness...

The next day.

When Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong had finished tidying up and stepped out, they saw the tall, slender figure of Xue Qinghe standing in the courtyard in front of the door.

She waved with a smile: "Good morning, you two... did you sleep well last night?"

Looking at her smile, it clearly carried a hint of teasing.

Ning Rongrong's pretty face flushed slightly, and she turned to the side, letting Qin Jian block her from view.

"We slept very well, thank you for the arrangements, Crown Prince."

Qin Jian remained calm and composed.

Then he silently released a Charm Sword...

Xue Qinghe's eyes blurred, and she felt the young man before her becoming increasingly good-looking...

She shook her head vigorously, as if to shake off this thought, and then smiled: "This is all what I should do. Now I will take you to the Etiquette Training Class; today's lesson is dance training..."

(End of chapter)